Posted on 01/22/2007 7:13:23 AM PST by TigerLikesRooster
China outlines control over foreigners surveying, mapping
www.chinaview.cn 2007-01-22 20:38:13
BEIJING, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) -- Foreigners in China require government approval before conducting mapping surveys, according to a regulation issued on Monday.
"Foreign organizations and individuals, who engage in surveying and mapping must obtain approval from the central government and accept supervision from local governments above the county-level," said a regulation issued by the Ministry of Land and Resources.
Chinese law on surveying and mapping states that foreigners must cooperate with a Chinese partner and the activities must not involve state secrets or jeopardize national security.
The regulation forbids foreigners from conducting land surveys, aerial photography, mapping of administrative borderlines and the drawing of navigation maps.
The number of foreigners conducting surveying and mapping in China is on the rise and many field projects have been carried out illegally, which have threatened the security of the country, said the ministry without mentioning the number of such cases.
Last year, two Japanese scholars were fined a total of 80,000 yuan (10,000 U.S. dollars) and deported for collecting materials and coordinates of an airport and water facilities in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. It was feared their results could be put to military use.
According to the State Bureau of Survey and Mapping, foreigners who illegally survey, gather and publish geographical information on China will be severely punished.
Chinese partners or translators will be fined if they fail to stop illegal mapping activities.
Editor: Gao Ying
Ping!
No problem, we have satellites for that very purpose!
Chinese law on surveying and mapping states that foreigners must cooperate with a Chinese partner and the activities must not involve state secrets or jeopardize national security.
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Too bad a little of the commie paranoia would not rub off on our own Congress at least as far as our borders are concerned.....
No problem, China has just tested an anti-satellite missile for _that_ very purpose!
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